Colin Wilson challenges the claims that the novel is approaching its inevitable end through a comprehensive and controversial survey of the entire history of the novel up to our present day. He attributes this claim to the wrong turns made by great novelists. However, Wilson also asserts that, despite everything, the novel has altered the consciousness of the civilized world: "We say that Darwin, Marx, and Freud contributed to transforming Western civilization, but the impact of the novel was greater than the combined influence of these three." He also believes that this influence can continue in the future. He sees the novel as a mirror where the novelist must view his own face and self-image. Describing reality and telling the truth, goals pursued by numerous novelists in the 19th century, are merely secondary aims. The primary goal is for the novelist to understand himself and realize the nature of his own purpose. These are just some of the issues Wilson raises through an excellent presentation of the novel's journey. Ultimately, the book clearly expresses the writer's optimistic philosophy about the future of the novel.

Publishing house: الدار العربية للعلوم/لبنان Number of Pages: 264 Year of publication: 2008